From Victor Osula, Abuja
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the candidate of the PDP at a seamless convention held on Saturday, at the velodrome of the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
At the keenly competed contest at the Moshood Abiola stadium, Abubakar polled 317 votes out of the total number of 731 votes cast by the 767 delegates. 12 votes were voided.
Trailing him were Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state who got 237 votes, while former Senate President Bukola Saraki came third with 70 votes, followed by Governor Emmanuel Udom who scored 38 and his Bauchi counterpart with 20 votes. Ex Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim got 14 votes. The only lady in the house, Oliver Diana and corporate guru, Sam Ohabunwa got one vote each. The remaining four aspirants, namely former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Publisher Dele Momodu, Charles Okwudili, Kanu Chukwendu got no votes.
In his acceptance speech, Abubakar thanked the delegates for voting for him and pledged to unify the country which he said had been disunited by the APC administration through misguided policies and undemocratic posture. He pledged to deal with insecurity and economic challenges facing the country and to work with the party leaders to woo back to the party aggrieved members who left.
The high drama of the event was enacted by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State. He stepped down for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the ongoing presidential convention holding at the velodrome of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
He did so after all 15 aspirants had made a 5-minutes address to the delegates.
Before accreditation of 767 delegates for the election started at 8:31 pm, the MC announced that Governor Tambuwal had a special announcement to make. Dressed in a white overall with camp to match, Tambuwal stepped forward and announced that he was stepping down for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, “after due consultation throughout the length and breath of this country, Northwest, North Central, North East, South east, Southsouth and southwest.”
He said he took the decision against what he described as the hard times in the country which required good leadership, to minimize rancor, foster unity and close ranks in the party.
He said; “I have come to the conclusion to step down my aspiration for Atiku Abubakr and appeal to my supporters to take the stand in its stride.”
